Waitaha Canterbury

Ancient art galleries, coastal walks and architectural landmarks are just some of the must-dos you’ll find in our Waitaha Canterbury itinerary.

Immerse yourself in early Māori history and explore the places where trailblazing Cantabrians made their homes, fed their communities and created social change as you visit Tohu Whenua in this region.

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Kaikōura Cultural Artwork Trail

Along the 60km scenic stretch of State Highway 1 from Oaro to Waiau Toa (Clarence River), experience this unique art trail centred around seven safe stopping places. Pull over to see murals, pouwhenua and tekoteko (carved pillars), beautiful native planting and information panels that share the rich stories of the hapū of Kaikōura.

Kaikōura Peninsula Walkway

Observe seals and seabirds, explore historic pā and whaling sites and enjoy clifftop views of the sea and mountains. Suitable for families, the whole walkway takes three hours, but you can also explore a range of shorter tracks.

Fyffe House at Wai o puka

Fyffe House sits within Wai o puka, an area with a long history of Māori settlement. Built on piles of whale vertebrae, this house is a rare remnant of the whaling industry and reveals the lives of early European families in the area. Explore the house, discover vivid stories of the people who have lived there and check out the animated stories gifted by Ngāti Kurī.

Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre

Explore an entire city block dedicated to fostering arts, culture and education. The country’s largest collection of Category 1 listed historic buildings is home to events, art galleries, museums, boutique retailers, a cinema, a weekly market, accommodation, eateries and bars. Get there on foot, by bike or on the historic tram, which stops right outside!

Pūtaringamotu Riccarton House & Bush

Breathe in the history as you wander through Pūtaringamotu, a rare remnant of a centuries-old kahikatea swamp forest with deep connections to Ngāi Tūāhuriri. On the same site is Riccarton House, the grand home of early European settlers, the Deans family, which is open for tours and hosts a charming on-site restaurant. Pop in on Saturday morning for the weekly Christchurch Farmers’ Market.

Te Whare Waiutuutu Kate Sheppard House

Step into the home of Kate Sheppard, iconic leader of Aotearoa New Zealand’s women’s suffrage movement. Visit the museum to discover how Kate lived, worked, and campaigned, and enjoy the extensive peaceful gardens.

Awaroa Godley Head

Awaroa Godley Head Battery is one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most intact and extensive coastal defence systems built during World War II. Onsite interpretation, murals, walking tracks and stunning sunrise views add to the experience.

Lyttelton Timeball

The Lyttelton Timeball overlooking Whakaraupō Lyttelton Harbour has marked Greenwich Mean Time since 1876. Today, the site pays homage to both Māori and European maritime navigation.

Ng King Bros Chinese Market Garden Settlement

A rare example of an original twentieth-century Chinese market garden settlement site that reveals how Chinese migrants worked and lived together and found their place in the local community of Ashburton.

Ōtūwharekai: Hakatere heritage

Hakatere Station’s vernacular stone, cob and timber accommodation buildings bring to life the basic living conditions and communal lives of high-country farm workers in the early twentieth century. Set amidst the dramatic landscapes of Hakatere Conservation Park, this site is the gateway to Ōtūwharekai Ashburton Lakes; an area of outstanding cultural importance to Ngāi Tahu.

Te Ana Ngāi Tahu Māori Rock Art Centre

Journey through the history and culture of Ngāi Tahu people at Te Ana, a state-of-the-art immersive cultural centre. From here book a guided tour to the Ōpihi limestone caves that reveal haunting images painted by Māori hundreds of years ago.

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